Apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device includes a desiccant-filled container within a collapsible, standup bag. The container includes openings for allowing fluid flow communication between the desiccant and the surrounding atmosphere. The desiccant-filled container may further include a cradle for vertically supporting the electronic device during the moisture removal process. Since the bag is capable of standing up, nearly every surface of the electronic device supported on the container is exposed to the moisture absorbing desiccant material, which increases the efficiency of moisture removal from the electronic device sealed therein. A visual display on the bag indicates the moisture content absorbed by the desiccant-filled container, thereby allowing the user to know when it is safe to remove the electronic device from the resealable bag.

This patent application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/549,533 filed on Oct. 20, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing moisture from electronic devices and, more particularly, to a collapsible, standup bag having a permeable, desiccant-filled container for removing moisture from an electronic device enclosed therein.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A common problem associated with electronic devices is the likelihood of malfunction and/or damage to the electronic device should the device's electronic circuitry be exposed to overly moist conditions. Users of portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, often drop or otherwise inadvertently transport their device into a toilet, pool or other body of water, which can result in immediate damage to the device. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to humid conditions can result in moisture building up within the electronic device, which can cause damage to the device if the moisture does not evaporate.

A number of attempts have been directed to solving the problem of ridding the damaging moisture content from electronic devices to put the device back in functioning order. While heating a moisture-exposed device increases the internal vapor pressure within the device, thereby forcing out the moisture, heating the device can actually cause further damage the device if done improperly. Another common approach is placing the electronic device in rice, which has moisture absorbing qualities; however, doing so can scratch the device in addition to leaving an unpleasant residue on the outer surface of the device.

Other methods of removing moisture from electronic devices have focused on sealing the moisture-exposed device within a container having a desiccant material, such as silica gel, stored therein. One example of such an approach is described in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2010/0122470 to Davis, which uses a desiccant material included within a sealable watertight container to remove moisture from an electronic device. A significant disadvantage of the Davis apparatus is that an entire face of the electronic device rests against an inner wall of the watertight container, which negatively impacts the ability of the desiccant material to absorb moisture from the openings in the device.

While the above described methods of removing moisture from electronic devices are useful for their intended purpose, a more efficient method of removing moisture from electronic devices is needed in order to better prevent permanent damage to moisture-exposed electronic devices.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device wherein all surfaces of the electronic device are exposed within the apparatus for optimum moisture absorption efficiency.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device including a collapsible, standup bag having an opening that is resealable.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device including a desiccant-filled container having openings for absorbing the moisture from the electronic device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device wherein the desiccant-filled container includes a cradle for vertically supporting the electronic device within the bag.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device that includes visual display for concurrently indicating the moisture content absorbed by the desiccant-filled container.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are more readily apparent with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device and includes a desiccant-filled container within a collapsible, standup bag. The container includes openings for allowing fluid flow communication between the desiccant material and the surrounding atmosphere. The desiccant-filled container may include a cradle for vertically supporting the electronic device during the moisture removal process. Since the bag is capable of standing up, nearly every surface of the electronic device being supported on the container is exposed to the moisture absorbing desiccant material, which increases the efficiency of moisture removal from the electronic device sealed therein. A visual display is included on the bag for concurrently indicating the moisture content absorbed by the desiccant-filled container, thereby allowing the user to know when he or she can safely remove the electronic device from the resealable bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag in the open, standup position, shown in partial cross-section, illustrating the desiccant-filled container and electronic device therein;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the desiccant-filled container, shown in partial cross-section, illustrating the openings on the container and the desiccant material stored therein;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the desiccant-filled container, wherein a cradle is included for vertically supporting an electronic device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag in the collapsed position, showing a visual display for indicating the amount of moisture that has been removed from the electronic device; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bag in the standup position, shown in partial cross-section, illustrating the operation of the apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device is shown and is generally indicated as 10 and includes a desiccant-filled container 12 within a collapsible, standup bag 14.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate different embodiments of the desiccant-filled container 12. Each embodiment of the container 12 includes desiccant material 16 stored therein and openings 18 along the surface of the container 12, thereby allowing fluid flow communication between the desiccant material 16 and surrounding atmosphere. The openings 18 may be in the form of slits, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, or any other suitably sized holes that allow moisture and air flow communication while preventing inadvertent emission of the desiccant material 16 from the container 12.

The embodiment of the container 12 shown in FIG. 2B includes a cradle 20 for vertically supporting an electronic device 100 within the bag 14. The cradle 20 permits nearly the entire surface area of the electronic device 100 to be exposed to the atmosphere, which increases the efficiency of the moisture absorbing process. If a cradle 20 is not used, the electronic device 100 may still be vertically positioned within the bag 14 by leaning the electronic device 100 against a sidewall of the bag 14 to assist in vertically supporting the device 100 on the container 12.

The bag 14 includes a top end 22 defining a resealable closure 24 and a bottom end 26 defining a collapsible, standup assembly 28. The resealable closure 24 produces an airtight enclosure within the interior chamber of the bag 14 when sealed. FIG. 1 illustrates the assembly 28 in the open, standup position. FIG. 3 illustrates the assembly 28 in the collapsed position, wherein portions of the bottom end 26 are folded over itself. The bag 14 is made of plastic or other similar material that allows for easy maneuvering between the standup position and collapsed position.

FIG. 3 further illustrates a visual display 30 on the bag 14 for concurrently indicating the moisture content absorbed by the desiccant-filled container 12. When the visual display 30 indicates that the electronic device 100 is dry the user can safely remove the electronic device 100 from the bag 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, in operation, the electronic device 100 is placed within a bag 14 in the open, standup position. The device 100 is vertically positioned within the bag 14 by being fitted into the cradle 20 or, alternatively, by utilizing a sidewall of the bag 14 to assist in vertically supporting the device on the container 12. The user seals the bag 14 using the resealable closure 24, thereby allowing the desiccant material 16 to absorb the moisture trapped within the electronic device 100 from both sides of the device 100. The visual display 30 will indicate when the moisture content has been fully absorbed by the desiccant material (approximately 24 to 48 hours), after which the user may unseal the bag 14 and remove the device 100 for use.

The moisture removing apparatus 10 may be used in conjunction with a number of portable electronic devices 100, including, but not limited to cellular phones, digital cameras, camcorders, mp3 players, handheld video games and electronic readers.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which are not to be limited except as defined in the following claims as interpreted under the Doctrine of Equivalents. 

1. An apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device comprising: a bag having a bottom end and sidewalls surrounding an interior chamber and said sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom end to an open top end communicating with said interior chamber; a resealable closure on said open top end for selectively sealing said open top end closed; a standup assembly defining said bottom end, and said standup assembly being configurable between an expanded, standup position and a collapsed position; a container having a desiccant material stored therein, said container having openings sized to allow air flow communication between said desiccant material and the surrounding atmosphere, and said container being sized and configured to be positioned at the bottom end of the interior chamber of said bag; and a cradle on said container including a first and second rail extending upwardly from said container, and said first and second rails positioned in spaced, parallel relation to one another and being structured and disposed for vertically supporting the electronic device by engaging opposite lower side surfaces of the electronic device.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a visual display on said bag for indicating the moisture content within the interior chamber of said bag.
 4. The apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device as recited in claim 3 wherein said visual display includes a plurality of markings in a row and each of said plurality of markings being structured and disposed for changing color to indicate the moisture content within the interior chamber of said bag.
 5. An apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device comprising: a bag having a bottom end and sidewalls surrounding an interior chamber and said sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom end to an open top end communicating with said interior chamber; a resealable closure on said top end for selectively sealing said open top end closed; a standup assembly defining said bottom end, and said standup assembly being configurable between an expanded, standup position and a collapsed position; a container having a desiccant material stored therein, said container having openings sized to allow air flow communication between said desiccant material and the surrounding atmosphere, and said container being sized and configured to be positioned at the bottom end of the interior chamber of said bag; and a cradle on said container including a first rail and a second rail each extending upwardly from said container, and said first and second rails being structured and disposed for vertically supporting the electronic device by engaging opposite lower side surfaces of the electronic device.
 6. The apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device as recited in claim 5 further comprising: a visual display on said bag for indicating the moisture content within the interior chamber of said bag.
 7. The apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device as recited in claim 6 wherein said visual display includes a plurality of markings in a row and each of said plurality of markings being structured and disposed for changing color to indicate the moisture content within the interior chamber of said bag.
 8. An apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device comprising: a bag having a bottom end and sidewalls surrounding an interior chamber and said sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom end to an open top end communicating with said interior chamber; a resealable closure on said top end for selectively sealing said open top end closed; a standup assembly defining said bottom end, and said standup assembly being configurable between an expanded, standup position and a collapsed position; a container having a desiccant material stored therein, said container having openings sized to allow air flow communication between said desiccant material and the surrounding atmosphere, and said container being sized and configured to be positioned at the bottom end of the interior chamber of said bag; and a removable cradle sized and configured for attachment to said container, and said cradle including a first rail and a second rail each extending upwardly from said container in spaced, parallel relation to one another, and said first and second rails being structured and disposed for vertically supporting the electronic device by engaging opposite lower side surfaces of the electronic device.
 9. The apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device as recited in claim 8 further comprising: a visual display on said bag for indicating the moisture content within the interior chamber of said bag.
 10. The apparatus for removing moisture from an electronic device as recited in claim 9 wherein said visual display includes a plurality of markings in a row and each of said plurality of markings being structured and disposed for changing color to indicate the moisture content within the interior chamber of said bag. 